Overview This is an introductory programming course which provides a strong foundation that would allow students to further their skills with additional education.
Description
This is an introductory programming course which provides a strong foundation that would allow students to further their skills with additional education. The course begins with an introduction to Java and how it compares to other languages, followed by how to write simple applications. Java Syntax, control code, and data types will all be discussed. In addition, fundamental object-oriented principles such as class creation, inheritance, and interfaces are considered. The latter part of the course will focus on GUI (graphical user interface) development and database connectivity.
Prerequisites
Before attending this course, it is recommended that students:
• Have basic computer navigation skills
• Prior programming experience is not necessary, but it can help to put these topics in perspective
Course Outline
(Note: The course material contains much more information that can serve as a useful reference to the learner going forward. This is why the chapter and section numbers listed are not in perfect numeric order)
Section 1: Essential Skills
•An introduction to Java
o An overview of Java
o Types of Java applications
o An introduction to Java development
o How to use NetBeans to work with existing projects
o How to use NetBeans to develop new projects
•How to write your first Java Application
o Basic coding skills
o How to work with numeric variables
o How to work with string variables
o How to use classes, objects, and methods
o How to use the console for input and output
o How to code simple control statements
o How to test and debug an application
•How to work with primitive data types
o Basic skills for working with data
o How to code arithmetic expressions
o How to use Java classes to work with numbers
o How to use the BigDecimal class
•How to code control statements
o How to code boolean expressions
o How to code if/else and switch statements
o How to code loops
o How to code break and continue statements
•How to code methods, handle exceptions, and validate data
o How to code and call static methods
o How to handle exceptions
o How to validate data
•How to test, debug, and deploy an application
o Basic skills for testing and debugging
o How to use NetBeans to debug an application
o How to deploy an application
Section 2: Object-oriented programming
•How to define and use classes
o An introduction to classes
o How to work with a class that defines an object
o How to code and use static fields and methods
o More skills for working with objects and methods
